Star-Ledger Pulls Out Of Debate After Endorsing Daggett

The endorsement of independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett by New Jersey's largest newspaper, the Star-Ledger, has already had one major consequence: The Ledger has pulled out of Friday's upcoming debate, or else violate state law.

The debate is still on through its other partners, including the northern Jersey Record and the Herald News, as well as Fox News. But the Ledger will not be sending their reporter to take part in the panel.

The state election commission's regulations require that officially registered debate sponsors not endorse a candidate, at least until after the debate. "We came to the conclusion that it was probably the best for everyone involved if a replacement were found for us," managing editor Kevin Whitmer told TPM, "that there was something in place that if we endorsed before the debate, that would be in violation."

This regulation apparently took the paper by surprise, with Whitmer saying it was never discussed in any of the events leading up to endorsement: "I personally - I can't speak for the whole paper -- but I was personally surprised to hear of it over the weekend."

If the Ledger had known about this rule in advance, would they have waited to endorse Daggett? "Impossible to speculate on that decision," Whitmer replied.